Zhou Xiaosi handed him the medicine, saying, "Twenty-five taels of silver. If you feel unwell anywhere, remember to come back for a follow-up appointment. You can also come if you're feeling down; Shopkeeper Jin only charges five copper coins for chatting with people."
After paying, Wu Shaoyang took the medicine packet and smiled, "Okay... thank you for the reminder, young man." Then he turned to Jin Shanyao, " Shopkeeper Jin, I'll be going now."
Jin Shanyao her hand with a smile, "Be happy, remember to get plenty of sunshine and drink lots of water, okay?"
"Hmm..." Wu Shaoyang nodded emphatically, picked up the medicine bag, and walked briskly out of the Anzhi Hall.
After Wu Shaoyang left, Meng Anzhi finally spoke, "Auntie, where did you go just now? I looked for you everywhere but couldn't find you."
Jin Shanyao a deep breath and looked at Meng Anzhi with utmost seriousness, saying, " Anzhi, you must remember this: don't talk to strangers, and don't go with strangers... It's too dangerous."
So you just left with a stranger?
Jin Shanyao. "It was Wu Shaoyang. That guy... right in front of me... tripped and plunged headfirst into the river... My heart was pounding at that moment."
She gestured to her neck, "Even now, I'm afraid my heart will jump out if I open my mouth."
Meng Anzhi reached out and patted her chest, "Auntie, don't be afraid... It's all in the past. Learn from your mistakes, we'll just not go with strangers next time."
Jin Shanyao her face away and waved her hand, saying, "It's impossible to guard against everything... The world is too treacherous."
When Wu Shaoyang got home, he started brewing the medicine. Following Zhou Xiaosi's instructions, he first washed the herbs and then put them into a medicine pot, intending to boil three bowls of water down to one bowl.
He stared at the fire in the stove, occasionally fanning himself with a palm-leaf fan.
" Shaoyang... what are you doing now? The whole yard smells awful with medicine," Wu Shaoyang's sister-in-law said as she walked over, covering her nose. Wu Shaoyang glanced at her but didn't say anything.
Sister-in-law Wu rolled her eyes, "They're really getting worse with age, they don't even know how to greet people anymore..."
She fanned the air with her hand, "What do you think about the marriage proposal I brought up?"
Wu Shaoyang stared at the medicine jar and said coldly, "I disagree."
"Hey... why are you so stubborn? She's the eldest daughter of the Miao Household... half of the docks on the Huntong River belong to her family, and her dowry alone includes five shops and two estates. You couldn't find such good conditions even with a lantern, and you still won't agree."
Sister-in-law Wu rolled her eyes. Seeing that Wu Shaoyang ignored her, her face darkened. "Fine... if you won't talk to me, I'll go talk to your older brother."
After saying that, he turned and left!
Seeing that the medicine was almost ready, Wu Shaoyang put down his palm-leaf fan, took a handkerchief to place on the pot, picked up the pot and poured the medicine into the bowl. Only after doing all this did he carry the bowl of medicine into the house.
He sat cross-legged on the kang (a heated brick bed), staring at the steaming bowl, occasionally touching it with his hand. Just as he was about to pick it up after it had cooled down enough, he heard a gasp from outside.
" Shaoyang..."
Before Wu Shaoyang could even look up, the medicine bowl in his hand was violently overturned to the ground. With a loud crash, the porcelain bowl shattered into pieces, and the medicine splattered everywhere.
"Ah..." Sister-in-law Wu had just stepped into the house when a shard of porcelain cut her hand. She glanced at the bloodstain and angrily said, " Shaoyang, what are you doing now...?"
This family has been thrown into chaos by you. Our whole family went to so many different households to arrange your marriage, and we finally found one, but you just refuse to see them.
How are my parents and husband supposed to explain this to the woman?
Mother Wu glared at her daughter-in-law, "Alright... this isn't the time to talk about this."
She turned to Wu Shaoyang, " Shaoyang, I heard from your sister-in-law that you were brewing medicine, are you feeling unwell?"
Wu Shaoyang stared at the shards scattered on the ground, finding it utterly pointless, and said indifferently, "The doctor said I'm ill..."
"Pah, which quack doctor said that? You're always so lively, what could be wrong with you..." Mother Wu kicked the broken pieces on the ground and called a maid to clean up the room.
"My son, I'm telling you you're not sick. Don't drink any more of these weird medicines, lest something really happens."
Wu Shaoyang looked into his Mother Wu's eyes, his gaze filled with sorrow, "Mother, I'm really sick... Shopkeeper Jin told me himself."
"What Shopkeeper Jin, which Shopkeeper Jin... never mind, listen to your mother and go to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion tomorrow to meet Miss Miao. Your older brother has already made an appointment with her."
Even if you don't consider others, you should at least consider your own business. If this marriage goes through, our goods will save a lot of money when transporting them by water. Then it'll all be yours."
Mother Wu reached for Wu Shaoyang's hand, but he shoved it away, saying, "Mother, I've always listened to you since I was little. How can I make my own decision about this marriage?"
Mother Wu quickly said, "Why didn't we let you make the decision? You didn't lack a girl you liked, did you? You're of marriageable age now. If you settle down this year, you can get married in two years. It won't delay anything."
"Mother, I've already told you, I don't want to be engaged to the Miao Household, why can't you hear me?"
"I heard you, I heard you... Good boy, Shaoyang, let's not make a fuss anymore, okay? Relationships are built over time. Look at me and your father, your sister-in-law and your brother, we hadn't even met before we got married."
If we didn't consider your feelings, would we even arrange for you to meet? Shaoyang, your parents are useless; this family relies entirely on your brother. If you can't help, then don't cause trouble, okay?
"Mother..."
"Alright, alright, I won't say anything. Don't forget to go to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion tomorrow at noon. That Miss Miao is really lovely; you'll definitely like her..."
As she spoke, Mother Wu pulled her eldest daughter-in-law out of the courtyard. She then called a maid over and whispered instructions.
"Throw away all the medicine the second young master brought back, and make sure he doesn't drink any random medicine."
The maid nodded, then secretly ran to the study, found the medicinal herbs, and threw them into the swill bucket.
Wu Shaoyang stared at the puddle of medicine on the ground for a long time. He got up and went to the study to brew another dose, only to find that the place where he kept the medicine was empty, with nothing there.
Wu Shaoyang chuckled softly; he knew this would happen.
Aside from Shopkeeper Jin, who would believe that a lively person could be sick? Wu Shaoyang sat in the chair, staring blankly out the window.
As the sun began to set and darkness fell, the study door was knocked open, and Father Wu entered carrying food. "I didn't see you while we were eating, but I knew you were in the study."
He laid out the food. "Your mother made your favorite zucchini and egg stir-fry. Try it... Zucchini is at its freshest this season."
Wu Shaoyang didn't move, but looked at his father and pleaded, "Father... I don't want to form a marriage alliance with the Miao Household."
Father Wu sat down opposite him. " Shaoyang, you've reached the age to get married."
"Father... is age a reason to get married? If I just marry any woman because of this age, it won't be good for either of us."
Father Wu laughed and said, "Silly child, what are you thinking about? Our family and the Miao Household are well-matched. When you meet someone you like in the future, you can just bring them into the family. Why worry about these things?"
As he spoke, he stood up to leave, " Shaoyang, don't be willful..."
"Dad..." Wu Shaoyang called out to his Father Wu, "I don't like eating zucchini... I've said this countless times since I was a child, why can't you remember?"
Everyone says you love me, but why can't I feel it? I'm allergic to celery, but you always make celery dumplings for Chinese New Year. If I don't eat them, you say I'm picky.
I remember once when I was taking medicine, the doctor told me to avoid spicy and pungent foods, so my mother made braised fish that night. I told them I had dietary restrictions, and they suddenly realized. The next day, she made me some scrambled eggs.
Wu Shaoyang curled his lips into a smile, "So... did you guys even care about me at all?"
Father Wu replied dismissively, "Your mother is easygoing... she might have overlooked your feelings. I'll talk to her about it when I get back."
"Father..."
"Alright... why are you so vengeful? That's your mother who gave birth to you and raised you. If she doesn't love you, who will? Why don't you know what's good for you?"
"Hurry up and eat. Your mother made this zucchini and egg stir-fry herself. Oh, by the way..." Father Wu stopped in his tracks, turned around, and said, "Don't forget to go to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion tomorrow." Then he turned and left.